Purpose

The American Indian Education Program will provide opportunities for academic support and cultural enrichment for self-identified American Indian students. 

Services

The American Indian Education Program will collaborate with AISD Student Support Services to provide a variety of services including Twilight after school tutoring and credit recovery on all middle and high school campuses, ACE Austin expanded learning opportunities on some elementary, middle, and high school campuses, and PrimeTime after school enrichment opportunities on low socioeconomic campuses throughout the district. In addition, based on grant availability, the American Indian Education Program will partner with Great Promise for American Indians to provide after school cultural enrichment classes. 

American Indian Parent Committee 

American Indian Education Program will form an American Indian Parent Committee to fulfill a possible future grant obligation. The “Indian Education Formula Grant” offered by the Office of Indian Education requires the formation of an American Indian Parent Committee (AIPC). The AIPC will meet about 3 times per year to provide input for the American Indian Education Program and approve the final “Indian Education Formula Grant” application prior to it being submitted. Parents of AISD students who submitted an ED 506 Form are eligible to join the AIPC.

ED 506 Form – Please fill out this ED 506 form from the Office of Indian Education and return it to David.Torres@austinisd.org. The “Indian Education Formula Grant” is available to school districts who have ED 506 forms filed.

Important Dates:

1. Texas American Indian Heritage Day – September 29, 2023: Observed the last Friday every September. Bob Bullock Museum event: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit/programs-events 
2. National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools (Orange Shirt Day) - September 30, 2023: Day to bring attention to the damage the residential school system did to Indigenous children, lifeways, and cultures. AISD will observe this day on September 29. Please wear an orange shirt in observance.
3. Indigenous Peoples Day – October 9, 2023: Observed the second Monday every October: Celebrates and honors Indigenous peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.
4. Indigenous Peoples Week – October 9–October 13, 2023: As enacted HCR62, the second week of October is Indigenous People's Week to celebrate the legacy of Indigenous peoples and recognize their contributions to the state of Texas.
5. Native American Heritage Month – November 
6. Native American Heritage Month Celebration – November 4, 2023: Austin Public Library Central – 10:15 am to 4:30 pm – Featuring Native American authors from the Heartdrum imprint of HarperCollins. The FREE event includes authors Laurel Goodluck (Mandan-Hidatsa), Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe), Kim Rogers (Wichita), Cynthia Leitichsmith (Muscogee), and Brian Young (Navajo), who all write books for young readers, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels with contemporary Native American children in starring roles. More details on the Heartdrum presentation can be found here: https://www.bookpeople.com/event/heartdrum-native-american-heritage-month-celebration
7. Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival– November 18, 2023: Travis County Expo Center – 9 a.m.–9 p.m.: Additional info and tickets on sale now at https://austinpowwow.net

American Indian Education Program Contact

David Torres
American Indian Education Program Coordinator
Student Support Services
Office: 512-414-0222 
Email: David.Torres@austinisd.org